Obese Child: A Parental Neglect?

Childhood obesity is one of the major issues these days as it has extended its roots. Childhood obesity is known as a serious medical ailment in which a child is overweight in comparison to the weight as per his or her age and height. Excess weight in childhood can lead to various health problems and that is why it is extremely important to tackle this dispute.

Numerous factors like the environment in which the child is conceived, born and raised play a pivotal role in developing the risks of childhood obesity. Proper treatment of obesity can save the health of the child while reducing the risk of health complications.

Obesity: A parental Neglect?

Childhood obesity can sometimes be connected with parental neglect but in most cases, parents are not always to be blamed. As per the child health experts, parents who fail to help an obese child eat and exercise properly, ignoring all advice and guidance could be guilty of neglect. Parental failure to provide their children with adequate lifestyle changes is a major concern these days. Consistently failing to change the family’s lifestyle and will not motivate children to engage in outdoor activities is of the biggest parental neglect.

Health experts further said, “consistent failure to change lifestyle and engage with outside support also indicates neglect.” Concerning parental behaviours include constantly cancelling appointments, not encouraging/refusing engaging with weight management activities of children and not taking an active part with their weight-related initiatives. This type of behaviour is of major concern when the child is at higher risk of developing obesity-related health complications like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and trouble while moving.

Parental neglect can further become a part of huge concerns when childhood obesity reaches a ladder of difficulties like poor school attendance, exposure to or involvement in violence, poor hygiene, child mental health problems, emotional and behavioural complications.

Prevention of childhood obesity

• Include a healthy diet
• Teach kids about portion control
• Incorporate an exercise regimen
• Tell them the importance of staying hydrated
• Make them aware of the downsides of processed food items
• Involve them while cooking healthy food
• Keep them away from distractions while eating
• Add healthy snacks to their diet

Footnote

Prevention of childhood obesity is extremely important to minimise the risk of various diseases. Incorporate some healthy lifestyle changes in your child’s routine and do consult a doctor if your child is gaining too much weight in a short span of time.